It's not just been almost 10 years in the making – getting the Nets from New Jersey to Brooklyn amid strong opposition to the construction of Barclays Center and surrounding development.

But it's also been the past few days, waiting for this moment because the NBA – at the recommendation of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg – postponed Thursday's originally scheduled Barclays Center opener between the Nets and New York Knicks because of Hurricane Sandy and its devastating impact.

The moment arrived, even if Saturday's Raptors-Nets, a far less glamorous matchup. Instead of TNT on Thursday, it's on NBA TV Saturday.

The storm's aftermath deflated the gala of opening night, but you can't take away happened on a night with several special moments, starting with – but not in chronological order – Brooklyn's 107-100 victory against the Raptors.

Yes, it felt like home for the Nets and Brooklyn fans. No more disinterested seasons in New Jersey.

"This was such a huge night, and if I give you a list of reasons why it was such a huge night, we'd probably be here for a while," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "Let's just start with the fact that we're in Brooklyn now, and it's a big difference. You saw the crowd tonight, even under the circumstances, and they were into the game. They were chanting 'Brooklyn' all night.

"It's really, really special. I'm just so thrilled to be a part of it. In some ways, we tried to downplay it. This night meant a whole lot to a lot of people."

The Nets were tired of waiting to play – the last team in the NBA to open the season – but Johnson understood the tragedy and devastation for people in and around New York.

"There are people who have had their homes destroyed and are in worse shape than we are playing a basketball game tonight," he said.

Just as Knicks fans wanted basketball in Manhattan on Friday, Nets fans wanted basketball in Brooklyn on Saturday – if only for a few hours of relief.

Savvy enough to understand his fanbase, Nets owner and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov said: "I wanted to say on behalf of myself and many, many Russians have been watching what is going on here the last few days, and we really wish all the people affected by storm a lot of strength and we hope everything gets back to normal very, very soon.

"You are in our thoughts, and to those who made it out to the game tonight, thank you for the extra effort and to those who wanted to be but couldn't, maybe they are listening on the radio or watching on the TV. We really hope to take your mind off of problems for a few hours and we are really very glad you are with us in spirit.

"I think it is a great credit to this country and to this city that the game will go on despite of all problems."

The Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center each pledged $100,000 to the Brooklyn Recovery Fund.

After a news conference with reporters, Prokhorov met with former Brooklyn Dodgers Ralph Branca and Joe Pignatano, and Gil Hodges Jr., the son of Gil Hodges.

At tip-off, it was clear fans had trouble getting to Brooklyn. Several empty seats were visible in the lower and upper bowls. It may be an announced sellout based on tickets sold, but not everyone made it.

Until Saturday morning, subway operations from Manhattan to Brooklyn were suspended, making it difficult to get between the two boroughs. The 4 and 5 trains began running Saturday to and from Brooklyn and Manhattan, but there are just two lines – of 11 – which stop at Barclays Center.

The scene outside Barclays Center three hours before suggested it may be problematic for fans to reach the arena.

It was a quiet scene for the most part – an average Saturday in Brooklyn. Irreverent hipsters road their vintage three-speed bicycles and skateboarders in their Vans sneakers rolled on Flatbush Avenue. Two men shared a joint on a bench outside of the Nets' team shop at Barclays Center.

Several people had on Brooklyn Nets apparel, and even a few wore New Jersey Nets hats and jerseys. Brooklyn resident Hasan Azad, 23, wore on Brooklyn Nets hat and T-shirt and browsed the Nets store looking for more gear. He has been waiting at least 10 years for this day. He was a Nets fan when they were in New Jersey.

"It's awesome," Azad said. "I didn't have tickets for Thursday's game, so I'm pretty excited to come to the season opener. I didn't make it to any preseason games so this is my first time here for a game."

Nets guard Joe Johnson, center, drives to the hoop during the first quarter against the Raptors. Johnson, acquired in the offseason, finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Anthony Gruppuso, US Presswire

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Douglas Wardlaw and his son, Douglas, made the trip from New Haven, Conn. The elder Wardlaw, a Knicks fan, bought a mini-season ticket package to Nets games, mostly for his son, a Nets fan. But he had another reason, too.

"Nets tickets are more affordable," the firefighter said.

He is impressed by the team and arena.

"It's tremendous," Wardlaw said. "The effort and detail into the building you can obviously tell they spared no expense. They've got deep pockets."

One of those with deep pockets is Prokhorov, who met with reporters and before the game. He displayed his serious intent to have a winner and his deadpan humor – sometimes in the same sentence.

Asked how many games he planned to attend this season, Prokhorov said, "It's minimum 25% but now we can say more than 30 – not including playoffs."

Asked what would a successful season for a team with an $81.8 million payroll, he said, "Maybe conference finals."

On if he took note of the Knicks' victory over the defending champion Miami Heat: "Just yesterday, I went to bed 8 o'clock to be up at four in the morning for a great workout."

The budding politician also gave a political answer to the United States' presidential race: "For me, it's really a riveting situation because President Obama likes basketball as me, and Mitt Romney he comes from business as me. So I'm very relaxed about result of election."

And finally the big-spending was asked if harsh luxury tax payments in the new collective bargaining agreement "It concerns my only to the level we can reach championship, that's all. My group is still in very good shape."

Just before tip-off, the Nets introduced their new mascot, BrooklyKnight, a superhero who also is featured in Marvel Custom Solutions comic book. The Nets embrace the dark, gritty side of Brooklyn, and the mascot represents that.

Nets center Brook Lopez exchanged a Nets jersey for a Dodgers jersey from Branca, who wore Lopez's jersey during the game. After the game, Lopez wanted to know where his gift from Branca was and asked a team staffer to track it down.

Jay-Z and his wife, Beyonce, sat in their courtside seats and Prokhorov watched from his owner's suite in Section 108 at midcourt, it was game-time.

Prokhorov's $98 million star, guard Deron Williams, made the first regular-season basket a Barclays Center, a 14-foot jump shot. Johnson told a fan at a restaurant the other day the first play the Nets ran would be for Williams, and Johnson said after the game he gave the game ball to Williams – his predetermined plan if the Nets won.

Williams had 19 points and nine assists, and Lopez had 27 points, leading five Nets in double figures.

"Tonight, I don't care if Deron didn't score, he was going to get the game ball because a lot of what's happening with this team is because he decided to re-sign," Johnson said.

Every Nets player signed the ball, and Williams put it in his locker room stall.

"We know how proud Brooklyn people are about having a team back in the borough, and we are just as excited to be there," Williams said.